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Punjab govt suspends Sangrur women’s college management for misusing funds
DC appointed administrator of Akal Degree College for Women, Sangrur, after probe finds management committee misused ₹11.86 crore
The Punjab government has placed the management of Akal Degree College for Women, Sangrur, under suspension for misusing funds amounting to ₹11.86 crore. Sangrur deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal has been appointed administrator of the college.
The development came after the state higher education department conducted a probe into allegations of misuse of funds and ordered action against the college’s managing committee. The institution is the only girls’ college in a radius of 40km in Sangrur.
The probe report, a copy of which is with HT, states that the managing committee transferred ₹11.86 crore to another college and used the amount to start self-finance courses. “The conclusion of the inquiry report is that the use of these funds for other self-finance courses and purposes other than Akal Degree College for Women, Sangrur, falls under the category of misuse of government funds,” reads the inquiry report.
FIR registered against management
A case was also registered against the managing committee of the college. Sangrur senior superintendent of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said, “The case has been registered under Sections 408 (criminal breach of trust by clerk or servant), 409 (criminal breach of trust by public servant, or by banker, merchant or agent), 477-A (falsification of accounts) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code at the city police station as directed by the higher education department.”
Reacting to the FIR and suspension order, Karanvir Singh Sibia, chairman of the college management, said: “This is misrepresentation of facts, and we are going to challenge it in the high court.”
